The Heart of the Matter

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While reading about Elisha's ministry, I've been impressed by the miracles that followed his life. From the time Elijah's mantle was placed on his shoulders, he followed faithfully. He sought a double portion of the spirit that rested on Elijah and received it.

Drawing on the experiences of his ministry, the accounts that follow him serve as a backdrop for building up our faith:

1. The parting of the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:13-14)
2. The healing of the waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22)
3. The curse of the she-bears (2 Kings 2:23-25)
4. The miracle of the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
5. The Shunammite woman's son (2 Kings 4:8-37)
6. The poisoned stew (2 Kings 4:38-41)
7. The feeding of a hundred men (2 Kings 4:42-44)
8. The healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14)
9. The floating axe head (2 Kings 6:1-7)
10. The blinding of the Arameans (2 Kings 6:8-23)
11. The Siege of Samaria and the prophecy of abundance (2 Kings 6:24-7:20)

What was it about him that caused God to respond so often, with such magnitude?

In at least one of these miracles (the Shunammite woman) never asked for a son. But he spoke and God listened. And then the boy died, but after a time of prayer, Elisha was able to give the boy back to his mother.

We pray. We lean on God's promises. The wait becomes wearisome, and we grow discouraged. It's not uncommon to question whether somehow we disqualified ourselves from seeing the fruit of answered prayer. Maybe God doesn't hear us? Could it be that we've done something to disappoint him and he's waiting for us to get our act together, be better, and prove our worthiness of an answer?

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These questions lead me to another of Elisha's interactions--one of his final moments.

Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash, the king of Israel, came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, "O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"

And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and some arrows." So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. And he said, "Open the east window," and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot," and he shot. And he said, "The arrow of the LORD's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them."

Then he said, "Take the arrows"; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel. "Strike the ground," so he struck three times and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, "You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times." ~ 2 Kings 13:14-21 ~

There has been some discussion surrounding the instructions given to the king. Did he understand that he was supposed to strike the ground so many times? Why was Elisha so angry if instructions weren't clear?

I have a couple of thoughts about this:

• Elisha's statement, "You must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them," is an implication of instruction. The Syrians were not easy to overcome. In fact, quite the opposite. The Syrian army had a vast array of skills and could engage in warfare on any terrain with no trouble. They used military might as well as psychological means. Deception and infiltration would also be employed (Epoch Realm, 2024).
• Scripture tells us that God weighs the heart of a man (1 Samuel 16:7). 

Several times, Jesus is noted as saying "according to your faith ..." when linked with a miracle.

• Matthew 9:29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
• Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly.
• Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned, and seeing her, he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.
• Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
• Luke 8:48 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
• Luke 17:19 And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."
• Luke 18:42 And Jesus said to him, "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well."

The apostles later spoke of faith as an ignition switch that fanned flames of miracles, actions, and growth. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

So perhaps it isn't in how many times the king struck the ground, but his belief system. Maybe he just wanted Elisha to make the problem go away--like Naaman did--and didn't put his faith into the action. To Naaman's credit, he did do as Elisha instructed and was amazed that his leprosy was washed away in the process.

A beautiful example of diligently seeking the Lord and receiving the reward of that action is my beautiful friend, Dawn. With her permission, I will attempt to share her story of God's amazing intervention.

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In 2022, her journey began. Being diagnosed with a AAA (aortic aneurysm) was enough to cause concern. In the public eye, Dawn carried herself as though she had no concerns; Jesus was all she needed. So when she stood at the front of a Wednesday night gathering at church, declaring the goodness of God, sharing her 3-year marathon with her God, jaws dropped, tears welled, and praises raised in celebration of the God who continues to work miracles.

From the time of diagnosis, Dawn did one of a few things. She instructed her family what to do if anything were to happen. But more importantly, she went to the Lord. Every. Day. Hand over her heart, asking Him, "Please heal my heart." Whenever fear spoke in her ear, she'd place a hand over her heart, "Please heal my heart." She stated there were days when this occurred multiple times.

Every year, she would go for tests, evaluating and measuring. Should the aneurysm grow any further, she would require surgery. Then, in August this year, she went in for her tests. Days later, her physician gave her the news.

The aneurysm had not grown. In fact, it had shrunk--which is something that does not happen. The physician went further to say, "This is not an aneurysm. There is no more risk."

She beat the arrows and defeated the Syrian army in her life. She could have simply said, "Jesus, please heal my heart," once or twice, and stopped with assurance that God heard. But her belief in what God can do went beyond a formula and attached itself to the hem of His garment just as the woman who'd bled for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34).

She pushed through the room crowded with fear and reaped a harvest.

And so can we, in faith and hope. As Jesus said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23 NKJV).

In conclusion, God looks at the heart. He knows if we're going through the motions with a prescribed model of words and actions. And He knows when we're holding a mustard seed-sized faith.

😁 All it takes is a mustard seed to grow a great tree in the garden (Mark 4:30-32). 😁

Until next time,  💜 Karlene J 💜

Going the Distance

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What must Elisha have thought? It's not mentioned in Scripture whether he was searching for his purpose in life. In fact, we are told in 1 Kings 19 that he was out in the field with his oxen. He was about the of the family business. There's no mention of unrest or an inkling of a call on his life other than to follow in his father's footsteps and the family business.  But we can see that once Elijah set his mantle on Elisha, his first response was to go say goodbye to his parents, then sacrifice the oxen and feed the people with him. Once the feast was done, he got up and followed Elijah. No questions. No hesitation.

Towards the end of Elijah's time on earth, he tried to convince Elisha to stay back three times. But Elisha refused. For what reason? Scripture doesn't tell us. A guess would be that he sensed it was getting close to the end of Elijah's life. Not to mention the prophets they met along the way from Gilgal to the Jordan, who told Elisha that Elijah's time was coming to an end. Maybe he simply didn't want to miss out on one second of this man's ministry. He was a mentor. And Elisha had been anointed to be his successor from the beginning of their time together. (1 Kings 19:21 - 2 Kings 2:15)

It's not easy these days, is it?

I could cite instances when involved with one thing, I noticed another, and wanted to be involved. As a youth, the temptation to jump from one thing to another was palpable. One of my mentors encouraged me to stop and seek the Lord for direction. "The grass may look greener, but it's not always the case," they advised.

The wisdom of this woman still holds true years later. It's part of the fallen world we live in that misunderstandings arise, relationships go through dry and mundane periods, and some activity or group looks more enticing and satisfying somewhere else. The temptation to follow the path to the exciting new thing can be nearly undeniable.

But we must take a breath. Take this before our Lord and ask.

There have also been times, after succumbing to the temptation, regret followed later when I realized that the grass was indeed astro turf and the place I'd left behind was flourishing, and I'd missed out on something the Lord was doing. 

To have the Lord's guidance in our decisions is safest. The circumstances might appear bleak and hopeless. But we can't see the bigger picture like He can. 

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. ~ Isaiah 55:8 ESV ~

By Elisha's example, we can learn to hold fast to the end, whether in death or the Lord separating for His purpose. But Elisha refused to be left behind or miss out on anything Elijah did. Once they crossed the Jordan, Elijah turned to Elisha and asked, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?"

Elisha's response, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

Had he allowed Elijah's pushing him away to stop him, he wouldn't have been able to request this. Elijah told him it was a hard thing he asked for. BUT with God, all things are possible.  And Elisha saw the whirlwind and the chariot come out of heaven to carry Elijah away, then his mantle fell to the ground, Elisha picked it up, struck the Jordan as Elijah had, and crossed on dry ground.

The road may not be easy, but if we stay the course, hold the line with those God has brought into our lives, for better and for worse, we will reap a harvest. 

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9 ~

The following video is a clip from a film showing a trainer's goal to lead her cross-country runners to victory. The path was not what they expected. But it was effective. It's a great example of how following the path God leads us on doesn't always make sense, but always brings us across the finish line.

Until next time. Make heaven crowded. 💝 Karlene J 💝

Burning Bridges

 In 2018, a mass layoff occurred, affecting thousands of individuals across the state of Michigan. My job was among those cut from the roster that year. Many took to social media with their thoughts and feelings about the situation. Some thought it prudent to maintain an impartial position, stating it was important to avoid burning bridges because "you never know which ones you might need to cross down the road." 

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In recent months, it has become apparent that there is a bridge that needs to burn. It is connected to the road that leads back to the life we knew in our rearview mirror. Remember it? Some call it the good ol' days. While there is nothing wrong with reminiscing about days gone by, we should be cautious to avoid longing for those moments. In Genesis, we can read of the account surrounding Abraham's nephew, Lot, who had gone to live in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of the land had become depraved in heart, acting wickedly, and God was determined to destroy the land. Abraham interceded on behalf of the land's inhabitants, which prompted angels to be sent into the city and rescue Lot's family. We can see how depraved these people were as the men surrounded Lot's home, demanding that the men be released to them so they could have their way with them. 

Lot's family was then instructed to flee the territory. Lot had two sons-in-law who refused. They loved their lives too much. So Lot left with his wife and two daughters. They were also warned to flee and not look back.

"So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  BUT his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." ~Genesis 19:25-26 ESV

Lot's wife couldn't help herself.  Bible scholars and commentators believe that she wasn't taking a cursory glance into her rearview mirror to see what would become of the cities. Instead, she longed for the life she was leaving.

Later, Jesus warns His disciples: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 ESV).

OUCH!

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But this is not the first time anything has been said about turning away from a past life (or livelihood) to follow God. Nor the second.

The prophet Elijah was instructed by the LORD to find Elisha and anoint him as successor to his ministry. Elisha was plowing his family's field when "Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.' And he said to him, 'Go back again, for what have I done to you?' And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him" (1 Kings 19:19-21 ESV).

He kissed his parents goodbye, sacrificed his oxen, gave the people nearby the meat, ate with them, and then turned away to serve Elijah's ministry. And he served Elijah faithfully for 10 years before Elijah was taken by God to heaven, and Elisha's ministry began. Scholars say this act of sacrificing the oxen was Elisha burning a bridge. He was putting to death his old life, leaving him no fallback plan should things with the ministry go wrong.

Like Elisha, I believe answering the call of God to follow Him is to be without reservation. There is a cost, like any commitment. But it's worth it. Jesus promised that there will be people who will revile and persecute any who would follow Him, because of Him.

"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will find it.'" ~Mark 8:34-35 ESV

It's up to us to decide. The choice was given to us long ago.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" ~Joshua 24:15 ESV

The Story Behind I have Decided to Follow Jesus

Recently, I heard the story behind a favorite hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. The video above tells it so eloquently, be sure to watch it. Then go all in. No middle ground, one-foot-in-one-foot-out living will do. Eventually that will catch up to us and a decision will be required. Why not now? Persecution may come. Death threats could happen. Rejection and abandonment, perhaps. But hear the words of Jesus:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~Matthew 5:10-12 ESV

The blessing of the LORD is far better than anything this world can offer.

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. ~Proverbs 10:22 ESV

Until next time, let God be magnified! 💝 Karlene J 💝

Hope Deferred, Choices to be Made

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

~ Proverbs 13:12 ESV ~

A promise was made, and the wait for fulfillment is first met with anticipation and excitement. And then time passed. Days faded to weeks. Weeks melted into years. And the number of years ratcheted upwards into the double digits.

One might question, "Did I hear correctly?" or ... as think as Sarai thought, maybe God needs help.

Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 

~ Genesis 16:1-2 NKJV ~

What was their promise? A nation. Their descendants would be so numerous that they would outnumber the grains of sand on the seashore and the stars of the sky. And yet, Sarai had been unable to conceive. A disgrace in her culture.

Discouragement, disappointment, defeat, and depression are words often associated with the deferment of a promise, hope, or expectation. Unless caused by some chemical imbalance in the brain, even depression is often associated with a loss of hope or unmet expectations.

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We can't be certain Sarai (later called Sarah) experienced these feelings, but her actions make me wonder. She decided to assist God with the promise, and with the involvement of a slave woman, Ishmael was born. 

And yet, God said this was not the son of his promise (Genesis 17:18-19).

Many more years passed before Isaac was born. Scripture tells us that his name means laughter. Sarah gave him this name, as the promise fulfilled bubbled up within, removing the shame and reproach she carried due to her barrenness.

The moment Jesus was born, all heaven rejoiced, sending angels to announce His arrival. After 400 years of silence, it is reasonable to say that people had lost hope. But He came, as promised. Not on our time, but on time.

And yet, when hope is deferred, God seems silent, promises appear to have been forgotten, and how many of us fall prey to the thoughts that nothing will ever change?

As the proverb says, the heart becomes sick. I don't know if this is literal, but heartbreak is a common thing among humans.

There are questions we must ask ourselves when we perceive a delay in God's promises.

• If God never fulfilled the promise, would you continue to trust Him?
• If things never changed, would you continue to follow Him?
• Does the promise fulfilled glorify Him, or for your benefit alone? (James 4:3-4) 

Reflecting on a previous message, What Choice Do I Have? I must remind us all that we have a choice to make. This life we have been gifted is for His pleasure:

• Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
• For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
• In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved ... In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:5-6, 11-12).
• Everyone who is called by My name whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made. (Isaiah 43:7)
• You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
• The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. (Proverbs 16:4)
• 
  And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)
• He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
• For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

The choice is not easy, but it is simple. In all things look to Him who knows the best path. His ways are not ours. His timing is perfect. His plans are for our good, and not evil--always.

So, if you, like me, struggle with life's challenges and disappointments, it's time to decide.

Let's choose Jesus. Choose trust. For His glory, lay our own agendas and personal desires at His feet and surrender our will to His.

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. ~ Psalm 30:5 ~

Until next time, keep looking up. 💝 Karlene J 💝